Ricky Hatton has confirmed he will return to the ring this year, confident that he has "one more fight" left in him before retirement.

The 31-year-old had been pondering his fighting future following his brutal second-round knockout by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas last May.

But he told his website today: "I've decided to make a comeback and have another fight this year – probably round about the summertime.

"There's been no opponent that has been confirmed yet. There's been no date confirmed yet. But the point is I have made my mind up I am going to have one more fight."

Hatton will head to Australia on holiday next week and plans to start getting in shape immediately on his return.

"I go on holiday next week with my girlfriend and then when I come back, even though I haven't got a date yet, I'm going to go straight into training because weight-wise I have had a little bit more to carry than I normally do," he said.

"So I'm going to go straight in training, shed the weight and then, when the date comes, do my usually 12-week training camp."

Fellow Briton Amir Khan and Mexican Juan Manuel Márquez have been tipped as possible opponents. Hatton is certainly keen to return against a big name.

"We're looking at the IBF champion Juan Urango, who I've already fought and beaten," he said. "It's got to be a top-10 ranked pound-for-pound fighter or a world champion of some sort.

"I've boxed at such a high level and I could not have one more fight and people look at me and go: 'He's just had this fight just to knock someone over and end on top.' "I want people to say: 'Give Ricky his credit – he finished at the top.'"

Hatton added that he appreciates the concerns of some commentators and fans for his health but wants to test himself one more time.

"I've sat down and listened to the people that are close to me and know what I'm capable of and know what I believe I've still got in me," he said.

"It's very nice to hear people say: 'You don't need to fight again, Ricky – you've proved yourself,' and I suppose they are right, but as a fighter you don't want your last fight to be like that. I want to finish at the top and I know my last training camp could have been better so those are the reasons I'm giving it one more go."